Frequently Asked Questions

We regularly hold teacher training information sessions at our studios. These are a great opportunity to meet some of the faculty, find out more about the trainings and ask any questions that you may have. You can find out about our next information session and register for it here.

At Semperviva we believe yoga is for every body. We accept students regardless of ability, age or experience. We actually feel a wide range of students is beneficial since in most classes you will have different skill levels, body types and personalities.

With that in mind, there is a large amount of yoga practice within each program. We recommend starting to attend classes as soon as you can, if you don’t already have a consistent practice. You will be required to fulfill a certain amount of practical hours for each course.

This program will qualify you to be an inspiring, safe and effective teacher. However, we also have many students who enroll solely for their own personal development. Tools learned during this program will enable you to gain greater fulfillment from your yoga practice and your life.

Program lengths and schedules vary depending on the training you take.

The 200 Hour Part Time Vancouver Training is designed to work with your busy schedules in mind. Dive deeply into the study and practice of yoga while still being able to maintain your commitments to your work, family, schooling and other activities. We meet on two week nights and on the weekends.

The 200 Hour Full Time Greece Training gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful Mediterranean settings away from the modern world for 20 consecutive days. Combine your training with an incredible trip to the quiet island of Kithira for an unforgettable experience. This intensive course runs daily, however we do take time for excursions such as boat trips and tours of the island. For upcoming programs and sample schedules, please click here.

The 200 Hour Full Time Vancouver Training combines the chance to immerse yourself in an excellent intensive (full time) training, while also being in the City. The course runs daily for one month and is perfect for students who learn best while studying intensively, yet who also wish to be in Vancouver and have independent time out from the training, between scheduled course sessions.

The Advanced Yoga Teacher Training can take anywhere from 2 months to 5 years of part-time study, depending on your schedule and whether you already have a 200 hour certification. Start with a 200 Hour Program, then complete the additional 300 hours of training through a selection of our Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Courses (AYTT), such as Yin, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Prenatal, Kids, Restorative, Meditation and Philosophy, Adjustments and Hands on Assists, Anatomy II, the Business of Yoga, Ayurveda (with more courses to be added), to reach your 300 hour teaching qualification. For more information about Advanced Yoga Teacher Training for 300 hour certification click here.

All Semperviva 200 Hour programs cover the same comprehensive curriculum. You will learn about asana, meditation, pranayama, yogic anatomy, yogic history and philosophy. The main factors to consider are: where you would like to undertake the training, whether you learn better in an intensive format, or prefer a more gradual approach to accumulating knowledge and skills; and, of course, which format works best for your lifestyle and free time. We offer part time programs in Vancouver as well as a full time intensive course in Vancouver, Greece and other destination locations.

At Semperviva we don’t follow a single lineage, style or approach. We pride ourselves on having a diverse teaching staff with different backgrounds so that you can gain a well-rounded view of all styles. Through the training and your teaching practice, we want you to find your own voice and a teaching method that is authentic to you.

All Semperviva Yoga College faculty are Yoga Alliance Certified at the 200 hour or 300 hour level, and continue their studies to bring you the freshest inspiration possible. Our teachers range from all traditions of yoga and are committed to your higher learning. Assistant teachers may be a part of all trainings. For more information on our teacher training faculty, please visit our Please see our Core faculty and Master Teachers. To meet some of our faculty members, attend an Information Session.

200 Hour Teacher Training part-time students -20 hours of home study weekly
200 Hour Teacher Training Full time students-20 hours of home study
300 Hour Teacher Training Students – Home study times vary from one to ten hours of home study per Module chosen

The number of participants accepted to each program is based on what we feel will create the optimal training experience. Each course will be staffed with the appropriate number of senior faculty and assistants to allow personalized attention regardless of group size.
Be sure to register well in advance as our programs do sell out!

100% attendance is required for all Semperviva trainings.
On occasion we may be able to make a special arrangement for a missed class for the 200 hour training. Please ensure that any such requests arising from scheduling conflicts are communicated to Semperviva prior to the training, so that we can discuss whether a special arrangement will be possible. There will usually be an additional charge for such arrangement (for example, private sessions are charged at $100/hour).

Upon successful completion of our 200 hour program, you will have the necessary foundation to begin your teaching career. You will receive your diploma and may also register with the Yoga Alliance at the RYT-200 level (Registered Yoga Teacher 200). Graduates of the 200-hour program usually begin teaching in small studios, gyms, with private clientele (friends and family), etc.

Many new teachers decide to continue their Teacher Training with Semperviva, adding on to the 200 hour foundation course with our Advanced Yoga Teacher Training courses and eventually working up to the 300 hour certification. These Advanced Yoga Teacher Training courses also contribute to your continuing education credits.

Your ability to teach will also be influenced by how long you have been practicing yoga, your dedication to the program, and your comfort level with teaching. At Semperviva, you also have the opportunity to teach our student teacher class.

Yoga Alliance registers both individual yoga teachers and yoga teacher training programs (schools) who have complied with educational standards established by the organization. Their mission is to lead the yoga community, set standards, foster integrity, provide resources, and uphold the teachings of yoga. Although registration with the Yoga Alliance is not legally required for teaching yoga, most studios and fitness centers will require teachers to be registered with the Yoga Alliance. All Semperviva Yoga Teacher Training graduates are automatically eligible for Yoga Alliance registration.

Semperviva is registered with the PCTIA (the Private Careers Training Institute Agency). It is the regulatory agency for private training institutions in the province of BC. All private career training institutions in BC (including yoga schools) are required to be registered with PCTIA. PCTIA help to ensure your educational experience is a good one by requiring quality standards in schools – from contracts and refunds to course records. For more information please visit PCTIA’s comprehensive website.

It is a Yoga Alliance requirement that in order to maintain your status as a registered yoga teacher, you must participate in continuing education. Semperviva has lots to offer! Our Continuing Education courses cover all aspects of yoga from philosophy to advanced asana. Refine your teaching skills, and develop a creative edge for your own practice and your students. In addition to our AYTT courses, Master teachers from around the globe including Shiva Rea, Mark Whitwell, Gurmukh, Dharma Mittra, Max Strom, Rolf Gates, Simon Park, Twee Merrigan, and many more are included in our Semperviva programs to bring you fresh inspiration and in depth learning. Our destination training can also be counted as continuing education units!

Yoga Teacher Training is for anyone who has experienced the profound benefits yoga can bring to one’s life and wants to experience more of these benefits physically, philosophically, and emotionally. It is for all ages, all levels and all abilities.

No matter your age, ability and fitness level, the 200 hour training will benefit you, both on a personal development level and in preparation as a teacher. We work on all levels of the body, mind and spirit, improving strength and flexibility, and rejuvenating the whole being. Whether you plan to teach yoga, develop your own personal practice, or would like to enhance your career by offering yoga, our 200 hour Teacher Training Program will give you a firm foundation from which to teach safely, skillfully and with integrity.

Accreditation:Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a 200hr accreditation from Yoga Alliance (USA). This will allow you to apply to be a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance (USA). Following registration with either body you will be able to obtain insurance covering you for yoga teaching.

This program will qualify you to be an inspiring, safe and effective teacher. However, we also have many students who enroll solely for their own personal development. Tools learned during this program will enable you to gain greater fulfillment from your yoga practice and your life. See our Personal Development Page.